Brennan Center Welcomes New York Governor’s Push for Early Voting

February 12, 2018

New York, N.Y. – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today he will amend his budget bill to fund changes to the state’s voting system to expand access to the ballot box. The move would provide $7 million to enable early voting for 12 days before Election Day, including on weekends, with at least one site for every 50,000 residents in each county. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law released the following statement in reaction:

“Today’s announcement is an important step toward making voting accessible and convenient for all eligible New Yorkers,” said Chisun Lee, senior counsel in the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, which participates in the Let NY Vote coalition to advocate voting reforms. “For years, the state has lagged behind most of the country on this issue and forced people on Election Day to choose between participating in their democracy and other crucial obligations, such as work or childcare. Early voting eases that burden. We urge elected leaders in Albany to pass the governor’s early voting proposal, for which he is now providing funding. With this reform in place, more New Yorkers will be able to exercise their most fundamental right in our democracy.”

For more information about the Brennan Center’s voting work, or to connect with an expert for an interview, contact Rebecca Autrey at rebecca.autrey@nyu.edu or 646-292-8316.